Defying US President Barack Obama, the US Senate on Wednesday voted to deny the president's request for 80 million US dollars to close the US military prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
The measure, passed on a 90-6 vote, came ahead of the president's policy speech on Guantanamo Thursday, where 240 terror suspects are still held.
The bill also bars detainee transfers to the United States or its territories.
Most Senate Democrats sided with Republican in denying Obama the funding.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, a Democrat from Nevada, said he and other Democrats changed mind after seeing the House didn't give Obama the funding in a larger funding bill.
"In looking at the position of the House, that was more logical," Reid said. "We have clearly said all along that we wanted a plan. We don't have a plan. And based on that, this is not the bill to deal with this."
FBI Director Robert Mueller told a House panel Wednesday he was concerned that Guantanamo detainees could fuel terrorism if sent to the United States.
Obama announced soon after taking office in January that he will close the notorious Guantanamo prison within one year, but he is still working on a plan to deal with the 240 detainees there.
Pentagon officials indicated that if the Guantanamo prison closed as planned, more than 100 prisoners may need to be relocated to the United States.
Of the 240 detainees, 60 have been cleared for release while as many as 80 of the detainees will be prosecuted.
But the Pentagon said it may have to continue to hold the rest indefinitely, since they are neither fit for release nor prosecution.
(Xinhua News Agency May 21, 2009)
